Vadodara: The Vishwamitri river that finds mention in the puranas and is considered holy will for the first time be seen in the form of an idol like a deity.
The idol will be installed in a small temple on the banks of the river itself.
The Vishwamitri river is revered a lot and it is said that the river was the blessing of Sage Vishwamitra. The sage is said to have composed the Gayatri Mantra on the bank of the river. Strange as it might seem, but despite this background, there is no temple, idol or image associated with the river.
A group of persons including artists who have come together to work on the Yavateshwar Ghat of the river near Kala Ghoda bridge decided to have an idol and a temple for the river. The idol that will measure between 1.5 to two feet will be unveiled on Monday.
“The idol of cement is being made by a sculptor Pradeep Gavde. We have used some water and soil from the river also in the idol,” said art historian and heritage enthusiast Chandrashekhar Patil. The cleaning of Yavateshwar Ghat and restoration of the idols of fish and crocodile has also been taken up by the group.
Patil said that the idol was planned on the basis of whatever description was available in the scriptures. “We planned the small temple and the idol to convey the message that people and even the authorities should take interest in the cleaning of the river,” he added.
The group that includes Patil and like-minded people will also be sending a petition to the Prime Minister seeking its intervention to ensure restoration of the river. “This has been promised for quite some time,” said Manish Joshianother member. The first signatory of the petition will be Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad.
The idol will be installed in a small temple on the banks of the river itself.
The Vishwamitri river is revered a lot and it is said that the river was the blessing of Sage Vishwamitra. The sage is said to have composed the Gayatri Mantra on the bank of the river. Strange as it might seem, but despite this background, there is no temple, idol or image associated with the river.
A group of persons including artists who have come together to work on the Yavateshwar Ghat of the river near Kala Ghoda bridge decided to have an idol and a temple for the river. The idol that will measure between 1.5 to two feet will be unveiled on Monday.
“The idol of cement is being made by a sculptor Pradeep Gavde. We have used some water and soil from the river also in the idol,” said art historian and heritage enthusiast Chandrashekhar Patil. The cleaning of Yavateshwar Ghat and restoration of the idols of fish and crocodile has also been taken up by the group.
Patil said that the idol was planned on the basis of whatever description was available in the scriptures. “We planned the small temple and the idol to convey the message that people and even the authorities should take interest in the cleaning of the river,” he added.
The group that includes Patil and like-minded people will also be sending a petition to the Prime Minister seeking its intervention to ensure restoration of the river. “This has been promised for quite some time,” said Manish Joshianother member. The first signatory of the petition will be Rajmata Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad.